Stavros Memoirs 2: How Deep is Your Love?

14

Few months after...

Mythe Evaine Stavros Romanov's

"Good luck! Always remember, kahit anong maging result nito I will always proud of you... Hm?" napangiti ako sa narinig mula sa rito. He even squeezed my right hand softly like encouraging me.

"Thank you, Paeng..." I said with a wide smile on my face.

Nakakatuwang isipin na we managed to stay friends despite of what we feel for each other. We choose the right thing to do... If you have a mutual understanding, but it isn't the right time and both aren't ready yet for commitment, then don't. The beauty of having a this kind of agreement is letting each other grow together without any expectation at all.

" Let your courage lead your way, Mythe... You smell like love..." anya at napangiti ako ng buong puso dahil doon. I know what he wants to say...

"Just for you, Paeng" nakangiti kong sagot sa kanya. He squeezed lightly my hand before letting me go since tinatawag na kami sa starting line. Paeng is ridding a Motorbike na ipinahiram ng kaibigan nya na nagwowork din sa Cafe Rouge. He promised that he will wait for me for every quarter stop of the track.

This will be one the longest Triathlon I will ever participated for now. 750m sprint, 2km Swimming and 30km bike. This is short one if we compare to others... But I cannot engage with bigger events for now dahil sa acads.

I blow a short prayer of guidance and protection and started to run after the Que Gun shot. Naging maingay ang paligid... Everyone cheers for their loved ones...

"Go Mythe! I'm proud of you!" napangiti ako dahil sa narinig ko mula kay Paeng na nasa front line ng mga expectators. I fueled up and did my best...

After the 750m sprint, I dived on the pool and started to swim my way to the other end of it... Pag ahon ko ay dali dali kong kinuha ang bike ko and started pedaling...

When I reached the first Quarter stop... Nakakaramdam na ako ng pagod...

"GO ATE EVAINE!"

"GO EVAINE!"

"GO ATE!!!!"

"GO MYTHE!"

Halos manlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ko sa peripheral vision ko ang mga pinsan at kapatid ko kasama nila ang nakangiting si Paeng. Kumaway ito sa akin ng simple. I stopped for awhile... Sa tapat nila... I am not aiming to win... I am aiming to finish this no matter what. Nakaramdam ako ng pangingilid ng mga luha ko sa sobrang galak kong makita sila rito upang suportahan ako.

This is the first time to see them complete to cheer me up...
"H-how..."

Ngumiti silang lahat at tumingin kay Paeng at Mythos.

"Your friend and twin were persistent to the point we cancel everything for you..." nakangising sagot ni kuya Roquil na ikinapula ko.

"Go Ate! Finish this one!" ani Mytheo na ikinangiti ko.

"Go couz!" ani Jude.

"Thank you guys..."
Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kanila bago nagpatuloy sa pagbabike. Nakita ko pa ang pagsakay ni Paeng sa motor na gamit nya...

I know I'll see him on the next quarter stop... And I have to see him there... Ayokong mabigo sila... Lalo na siya...this is a tough activity... At simula palang I trained hard just to fit in... I won't let all my effort and struggles just to be here go to waste... Not now... That someone's believe in me not because I am his family... Not because of my name... But because he knew I can...

Nakita ko sina Queen mama  at dada kasama sina tiyo Jaime at Angel 'mmy.
They are cheering for me.

Huminto ako sa harap nila...
"Go cara!" saad ni mama not minding the crowd and stinky smell for hier own standards...dada is hugging her protectively from the back while cheering for me.

"I'm proud of you, always...my lil queen..." sabi pa ni dada.

"Go! Evaine! Kaya mong tapusin ito... Naniniwala kami sa iyo! Anak ka ng panget kong alalay at ng ate ko! Kaya for sure winner ka!" Angel 'mmy cheerful said

"Do your best and enjoy the moment... Evaine..." ani Tiyo Jaime.

"H-how did you..." medyo basag ang tinig kong tanong.

Ngumiti si mama at dada "Your twin and your friend told us this important event for our lil queen... Nagtatampo nga kami ng mama mo dahil hindi mo kami sinabihan at sa iba pa namin nalaman...saktong kasama pa namin ang angel 'mmy at tiyo Jaime nyo kaya sumama... " may pagtatampong saad ni dada. Yumakap ako sa kanila.

"T-thank you dada... Mama..." basag ang boses kong pasasalamat sa mga ito... And they hug me back.

Naluluhang ngumiti at tumango ako sa kanila tiyo... Napatingin ako sa di kalayuan... Nakita kong nakangiti at proud na pinapanood kami ni Paeng...

'Thank you' I mouthed at him.

'Always and forever, my Mythe' he mouthed back.

Napatingin ako kay Angel 'mmy at nakaramdam ako ng kaba ng makitang mataman nya akong pinagmamasdan... Ngumiti ito sa akin na tila natutuwa at nakakaunawa kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I continue my race... Alam kong nahuhuli na ako tulad ng ilang humihinto para magpahinga o kaya naman ay bumati sa mga kasama... But that was the least of my priority... I want to finish this even I am on the last... Dahil nandito ang pamilya ko...

Ngunit habang tumatagal ay nakakaramdam ako ng pagod at kawalan ng pag-asang makakayanan ko ito... I was prepared for this... But still I feel like I cannot finish it...pero kailangan kong matapos... Gusto ko... For myself... For my loved ones... For Paeng...

Naiiyak ako sa pagod na nararamdaman ko... Gustong gusto kong sumuko... I was nearing the 3rd stop... At halos manlabo na ang tingin ko dahil sa pagbukal ng mga luha sa aking mga mata ng makita ko si Paeng na mag-isang naghihintay sa akin doon at pinalalakas ang loob ko...

"GO MYTHE! I AM PROUD OF YOU! YOU CAN DO IT..." Dinig kong sigaw niya... Ngunit ang tono nya ay nagbago ng tumatakbo ako payakap sa kanya... Walang arte nya akong niyakap pabalik... Ramdam ko ang pag-aalala nya...

"Hey... It's okay, Mythe...husshh... Breathe in... Breathe out..." anya sa malambing at tila nakakaunawang tinig habang hinahaplos ang likod ko.

"I-I think... I can't finish it... I'm going to disappoint you all... P-Paeng... I'm tired... But I want to f-finish it..." Iyak ko sa kanya...

He cupped my cheeks and made me look at him. Nakita ko ang pag-unawa at pag-aalala sa mukha niya. He smiled at me." You made us proud, Mythe... Joining in this big event, is something you can be proud of... You can do this, love. I am believing in you...you can finish this, even in slow phase... No pressure... Hm... " he encouraged softly... Natila nagpapakalma sa akin. He kisses my temple and whispers words of encouragement. Tumatango ako at patuloy na nagpapatangay sa mga salita niyang nagpapagaan sa aking pakiramdam."... You smell like love... Mythe... Hm... You can do it... I am proud of you..."

"T-Thank you, Paeng..."

Tila naging motivation ko iyon at muli akong bumalik sa laro ng maging kalmado ang pakiramdam ko... That's Paeng's effect to me... He is my safe and comfort place... And... Damn...

My heart beats... Stronger... For him.